HHeadead CoachCoach CCurtisurtis JJohnsonohnson CURTIS “CJ” JOHNSON Head Coach • Fourth Season New Orleans, La. Idaho, 1985

Follow Coach CJ on Twitter: @TUCoachCJ

Curtis Johnson, Jr. completed his fourth season as the head coach of the Green Wave in 2015. Johnson was tabbed as the 39th head football coach in school history on December 5, 2011. He made the short trip to the Tulane campus after spending the previous six seasons (2006-2011) as the wide receivers coach for the . A New Orleans native and graduate of St. Charles High School, John- son, 53, has 28 years of coaching experience from both the collegiate and professional levels and was a part of an NFL Championship with the Saints and a Bowl Championship Series National Championship with the University of Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes in 2001. Under Johnson’s tutelage, 11 players have been either drafted or signed with NFL teams during his fi rst four seasons at Tulane, and three players have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. When Johnson was named head coach, he stated during his introduc- tory press conference that his priority for recruiting would be to recruit within the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana and create the “State of Tulane.” Since then, Johnson has signed a total of 61 players from Louisiana, including 42 local products. Johnson’s third season featured the school’s inaugural season in both Yulman Stadium and as a member of the American Athletic Conference, and three players named to the American All-Conference teams, three rookies earned Freshman All-America honors, including Parry Nickerson, who claimed fi rst team Freshman All-America honors, marking the third season under Johnson a Tulane players achieved All-America honors ( in 2013, Cairo Santos & Darion Monroe in 2012). After recording a 2-10 record in his rookie season, Johnson engineered one of the biggest turnarounds in in his second season of 2013. Johnson led the Green Wave to a 7-6 overall record, the most wins since 2002, a Conference USA mark of 5-3, the most league wins since In 28 years of coaching, Tulane’s Curtis Johnson has achieved the 1998, a 5-1 home record and more importantly to the school’s 11th bowl highest success on both the collegiate and NFL levels with a national appearance with a berth in the 2013 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. championship at Miami (FL) and title with the Saints. Johnson is the 10th head coach in school history to lead the Green Wave to a bowl game, but is just the second Tulane coach to inherit a losing Along the way, sophomore Lorenzo Doss was named a second-team program and lead the team to a bowl game in his second season, joining All-American by several publications. Three players received national Tommy Bowden who led Tulane to an 11-0 campaign and a Liberty Bowl player of the week honors, while four players were named to national berth in 1998. watch lists and six Green Wave earned C-USA Player of the Week hon- ors on eight occasions. Off the fi eld, Tulane was one of four schools to receive the prestigious AFCA Academic Achievement Award and junior safety Sam Scofi eld was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Second Team and was also named to the C-USA All-Academic Football Team. In his fi rst season as the head coach of the Green Wave, two players received All-America honors, including Cairo Santos, who became just the fi fth player in school history, and the fi rst since 1941, to earn consensus fi rst team All-America honors and was also the winner of the prestigious Lou Groza Award, which is presented to the nation’s top place kicker, and Darion Monroe received honorable mention freshman All-America honors from College Football News. Johnson’s rookie campaign also saw three players named to the All C- USA First Team, including Santos, receiver Ryan Grant and deep snapper Billy Johnson, while a total of nine players received All C-USA honors. Se- nior Ryan Griffi n quickly benefi tted from Johnson’s pro-style offense and signed as a free agent with the hometown Saints shortly after the 2013 NFL Draft concluded. Off the fi eld, quarterback Ryan Griffi n and Scofi eld were each named to the C-USA All-Academic Football Team, while 29 of his players were named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and six players received a C-USA Academic Medal for sporting a 3.75 grade-point-average or Curtis Johnson led Tulane to its fi rst bowl game in 11 years in just his higher during his fi rst two seasons. second season at the helm of the program in 2013. 10 2015 Tulane Football HHeadead CoachCoach CCurtisurtis JJohnsonohnson

Johnson boasts a list of prominent pupils that very few coaches at any level can match. While specializing with development, the group of standouts under his direction while at University of Miami (Fla.) and his prior stop at San Diego State includes some of the top wide re- ceivers over the last decade, including NFL fi rst-round picks Andre John- son, Santana Moss, fellow New Orleans native Reggie Wayne and Yatil Green. At Miami (Fla.), Johnson was part of a staff that went to nine bowl games and won the 2001 National Championship. He polished the skills of at least one All-Big East performer each season from 1996-2005, in- cluding Johnson - the third overall pick by Houston in 2003 - and Moss, who became the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in receiving yardage before making the Pro Bowl for the Washington Redskins. Wayne departed ranked fi rst in school history in catches and was a fi ve-time Pro Bowl performer for the . In his fi ve-year stint at San Diego State (1989-93) Johnson landed some of the school’s biggest recruits, including 2000 NFL MVP and fellow New Orleans native Marshall Faulk, who was recently inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, as well as wide receiver Darnay Scott, who completed his eight-year NFL career with 408 grabs and 37 touchdowns. Each year Johnson was with the Aztecs, the school had an all-conference performer at wide receiver. Johnson began his coaching career as a receivers coach at Lewiston (Idaho) High School in 1984, serving for three seasons before holding a similar position at the University of Idaho. He spent 1987 and 1988 at the In three seasons under CJ, four players have earned All-America hon- school before becoming the receivers coach at San Diego State. His next ors, while a total of 11 players have either been drafted or signed with stop was at Southern Methodist in 1994 before becoming wide receivers NFL teams. Johnson helped Cairo Santos (left) to fi rst-team All-America coach in 1995 at the University of California-Berkeley. honors and winner of the Lou Groza Award in 2012. Santos enters his Johnson attended the University of Idaho and received his bachelor’s second season with the . degree in physical education in 1985. He was a four-year starter for the Vandals and an All-Big Sky Conference selection. Johnson returned to New Orleans in 2006 after forging a reputation for Johnson and his wife, Angel, have six children, Janene (32), Kiejon developing top-fl ight targets on the college level for over two decades, (29), Curtis III (24), and Aaron (21), Angele (22) and Justin (21). Johnson and his stature steadily grew on the NFL level. serves as an ordained deacon at his church, First African Baptist Church During his time with the Saints, he and his electrifying receiving corps in New Orleans. helped the franchise to its fi rst NFL title in 2009 and New Orleans made playoff appearances in four of his six seasons. The Saints were rewarded with outstanding results from his wide receiver group during his time with the storied franchise. In fi ve and a half seasons, Johnson worked with both veteran and young wide receivers, with each benefi ting from his guidance and high- energy teaching style. Among the players who improved under his watch through their own dedication and his tutelage were Marques Colston, De- very Henderson, Robert Meachem, Joe Morgan and Lance Moore.

A native New Orleanian, Johnson has signed a total of 61 players from Curtis and Angel Johnson have six children and three grandchildren. Louisiana, including 42 local products. www.TulaneGreenWave.com • @GreenWaveFB 11 HHeadead CoachCoach CCurtisurtis JJohnsonohnson

THE CURTIS JOHNSON FILE PERSONAL Santana Moss - Miami (Fla.) AGE: 53 (born November 5, 1961) Roscoe Parrish - Miami (Fla.) BIRTHPLACE: New Orleans, La. Reggie Wayne - Miami (Fla.) FAMILY: wife, Angel; sons: Curtis III, Aaron and Justin; daughters: Janene, Will Blackwell - San Diego State Kiejon, Angele; Three grandchildren Marshall Faulk - San Diego State Patrick Roe – San Diego State EDUCATION Darnay Scott - San Diego State HIGH SCHOOL: St. Charles High School (LaPlace, La.), 1979 Bobby Shaw - California-Berkeley COLLEGE: Bachelor’s degree in physical education, University of Idaho, Iheanyi Uwaezuoke - California-Berkeley 1985 As A College Head Coach PLAYING EXPERIENCE Year School Overall Conf/Finish Postseason HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner at wide receiver at St. Charles 2012 Tulane 2-10 2-6/6th C-USA ------High School (LaPlace, La.) from 1975-78. 2013 Tulane 7-6 5-3/4th C-USA New Orleans Bowl COLLEGE: Was a four-year starter in football for the University of Idaho 2014 Tulane 3-9 2-6/8th American ------from 1980-83. Total 3 years 12-25 9-15 1 bowl

COACHING EXPERIENCE As A College Assistant Coach 1984-86 Lewiston (Idaho) High School, Receivers Year School Overall Conf/Finish Postseason 1987-88 Idaho, Receivers 1987 Idaho 9-3 7-1/1st Big Sky I-AA Playoff 1989-93 San Diego State, Receivers 1988 Idaho 11-2 7-1/1st Big Sky I-AA Semifi nals 1994 SMU, Receivers 1989 San Diego St. 6-5-1 4-3/T5th WAC ------1995 California-Berkeley, Receivers 1990 San Diego St. 6-5 5-2/3rd WAC ------1996-05 Miami (Fla.), Receivers 1991 San Diego St. 8-4-1 6-1-1/2nd WAC Freedom Bowl 2006-11 New Orleans Saints, Receivers 1992 San Diego St. 5-5-1 5-3/4th WAC ------1993 San Diego St. 6-6 4-4/T6th WAC ------BOWL EXPERIENCE 1994 SMU 1-9-1 0-6-1/8th SWC ------1991 Freedom Bowl - San Diego State 1995 Cal 3-8 2-6/T8th Pac-10 ------1996 Carquest Bowl - Miami (Fla.) 1996 Miami (Fla.) 9-3 6-1/T1st Big East Carquest Bowl Champs 1998 MicronPC Bowl - Miami (Fla.) Final Ranking: 2000 Gator Bowl - Miami (Fla.) 14 AP/14 Coaches 2001 Sugar Bowl - Miami (Fla.) 1997 Miami (Fla.) 5-6 3-4/5th Big East ------2002 Rose Bowl - Miami (Fla.) (National Champions) 1998 Miami (Fla.) 9-3 5-2/2nd Big East MicronPC Bowl Champs 2003 Fiesta Bowl - Miami (Fla.) (National Runner-Up) Final Ranking: 2004 Orange Bowl - Miami (Fla.) 20 AP/21 Coaches 2004 Peach Bowl - Miami (Fla.) 1999 Miami (Fla.) 9-4 6-1/2nd Big East Gator Bowl Champs 2005 Peach Bowl - Miami (Fla.) Final Ranking: 2013 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - Tulane 15 AP/15 Coaches 2000 Miami (Fla.) 11-1 7-0/1st Big East Sugar Bowl Champs PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Final Ranking: 2006 New Orleans Saints - NFC South Division Champions 2 AP/2 Coaches 2007 New Orleans Saints 2001 Miami (Fla.) 12-0 7-0/1st Big East BCS National Champs 2008 New Orleans Saints Rose Bowl Champs 2009 New Orleans Saints - NFC South Division Champions Final Ranking: NFC Champions 1 AP/1 Coaches Super Bowl Champions 2002 Miami (Fla.) 12-1 7-0/1st Big East BCS National Runner-Up 2010 New Orleans Saints – Playoffs Fiesta Bowl 2011 New Orleans Saints – Playoffs Final Ranking: 2 AP/2 Coaches PROMINENT PUPILS 2003 Miami (Fla.) 11-2 6-1/T1st Big East Orange Bowl Champs Final Ranking: Lorenzo Doss - Tulane 5 AP/5 Coaches - Tulane 2004 Miami (Fla.) 9-3 5-3/T3rd ACC Peach Bowl Champs Sean Donnelly - Tulane Final Ranking: Ryan Grant - Tulane 11 AP/’11 Coaches Orleans Darkwa - Tulane 2005 Miami (Fla.) 9-3 6-2/2nd ACC Coastal Peach Bowl Participant Derrick Strozier - Tulane Final Ranking: Cairo Santos - Tulane 17 AP/18 Coaches Julius Warmsley - Tulane Jordan Sullen - Tulane As An NFL Assistant Coach Ryan Griffi n - Tulane Year Team Overall Division Finish Postseason Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints 2006 New Orleans 10-6 NFC South Champs NFC Runner-Up Robert Meachem - New Orleans Saints 2007 New Orleans 7-9 3rd NFC South ------Lance Moore - New Orleans Saints 2008 New Orleans 8-8 4th NFC South ------Tony Gaiter - Miami (Fla.) 2009 New Orleans 13-3 NFC South Champs NFC Champion Jammi German - Miami (Fla.) Super Bowl XLIV Champs Yatil Green - Miami (Fla.) 2010 New Orleans 11-5 2nd NFC South NFC Wildcard Participant Devin Hester – Miami (Fla.) 2011 New Orleans 13-3 NFC South Champs NFC Division Participant Andre Johnson - Miami (Fla.) Andre King - Miami (Fla.) Ed Reed - Miami (Fla.) 12 2015 Tulane Football AAssistantssistant CCoachesoaches

total in school history. In 2006, UTEP ranked fi fth in the country in passing offense under ERIC Price’s leadership, averaging 312.8 passing yards per game. Jordan Palmer threw for a school-record 3,595 yards, as the club compiled 3,754 PRICE total passing yards, the best mark in school history. All-America receiver • Fourth Season Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr. averaged 109.9 receiving yards per game to rank Pullman, Wash. second in the nation. He completed his career with 3,218 receiving yards, 32 touchdown receptions and 11 100-yard games, all of which are school Weber State, 1990 records. Eric Price enters his fourth season as the offensive coordinator for The Miners scored 30 or more points in seven games and topped the Tulane in 2015. 40-point plateau on four occasions in 2005. Price helped the offense rank Price, 47, came to Tulane following stops at UTEP (2004-07) and at ninth in the nation by averaging 300.6 passing yards per game. The of- Memphis (2010-11). He brought over 20 years of college and professional fense featured three receivers who posted 100-yard receiving games. experience to the Green Wave offense when he was hired in 2012. The Pullman, Washington, native also served as a coach Price has solid and lengthy experience both at the collegiate and pro- for three seasons at Washington State (1998-2000) while his father, Mike, fessional level and owns an extensive background as an offensive coach served as the head coach. The younger Price helped develop quarter- on the collegiate level with stints of coaching wide receivers, running backs Jason Gesser and Matt Kegel during his time with the Cougars. backs and quarterbacks, in addition to his experience as an offensive Price got his start in coaching in 1985 when he worked with two Aus- coordinator. tralian club teams. He landed his fi rst collegiate coaching position in 1990 The 2014 campaign saw the Green Wave offense produce two 200+ when he was appointed a student assistant at his alma mater, Weber yard rushing performances, while three players combined to surpass the State. He progressed to the Division I-A ranks in 1991 when he joined 100-yard rushing plateau on four occasions, including a 215-yard rushing the Washington State staff as a volunteer assistant working with quarter- effort by redshirt-freshman Sherman Badie in his collegiate debut. backs and receivers. Among his protégés that year was future pro stand- In Price’s offense, redshirt-freshman quarterback Tanner Lee set six out Drew Bledsoe. school records for rookie quarterbacks. Price worked with a pair of high-powered offenses as a graduate as- In 2013, Price tutored the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl MVP Or- sistant at Hawaii and Miami (Fla.) the next three years. The Rainbow leans Darkwa, who rushed for three touchdowns and 83 yards on 16 car- Warriors rated fi fth nationally in total offense in 1991, as Price coached ries during Tulane’s fi rst bowl appearance since the 2002 season. the wide receivers. In 1992 and 1993, he directed the wide receivers and Receiver Ryan Grant also had a stellar 2013 campaign in Price’s of- ran the defensive scout team at Miami. The Hurricanes led the country in fense, as he hauled in 77 passes for 1,039 yards and nine touchdowns passing offense in 1992 and played for the national title in the Sugar Bowl. to earn fi rst team All-Conference USA honors. Grant was selected by the In two years with Price on the staff, Miami went 20-4 and featured three Washington Redskins in the fi fth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. receivers who went on to starting assignments in the NFL. During his fi rst season, quarterback Ryan Griffi n returned from an early Price coached the wide receivers at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo from season injury and quickly blossomed in Price’s offense. Griffi n set sever- 1994-95, and again at Northern Arizona from 1996-97. Cal Poly SLO was al school single-game passing records, including a school-best 476 yards second in Division I-AA in passing and total offense in 1995. Price helped vs. Rice and a 466-yard, fi ve-touchdown effort against UAB. Although NAU rank fi rst among I-AA teams in total offense and third in passing he played just one season under Price’s direction, Griffi n signed as free in 1996. The Lumberjacks reached the I-AA playoffs for the fi rst time in agent with the New Orleans Saints shortly after the 2013 NFL Draft con- school history. NAU had a quarterback who threw for 3,000 yards and a cluded. TU’s passing offense ranked fourth among C-USA teams and running back who ran for 2,000 yards, another fi rst in the history of the Griffi n ranked 22nd nationally in total offense. program. Grant prospered in Price’s scheme during the 2012 season, hauling in Price prepped at Ogden High, where he was a standout receiver. He 76 receptions for 1,149 yards and six touchdowns. Grant was a fi rst team earned USA Today honorable mention All-America honors after reeling in All C-USA selection and ranked 16th nationally in receiving yards per 77 passes for over 1,000 yards his senior year. He led the state in receiv- game and 27th for receptions per game. ing en route to being tabbed an all-state, all-league and al-area selection During his two seasons at Memphis, Price was the offensive coordina- Price played at the collegiate level for Dixie Junior College (1986-87) tor and also coached the Tigers’ running backs (2010) and wide receivers and Weber State (1988-91). He was coached by his father at Weber in (2011). 1988. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1990. Prior to Memphis, Price served as the wide receivers coach for the Price and his wife, Jody, have a daughter, Emma (13), and a son, An- Kansas City Chiefs. In 2008, he coached Dwayne Bowe, who logged 86 drew (9). catches for 1,022 yards. Price received his initial NFL coaching experience as an offensive as- sistant with the New York Jets from 2001-02. He was instrumental in the LIONEL development of Jets quarterback Chad Pennington. Price helped prepare Pennington for his move into the starting lineup, as he opened the fi nal 12 WASHINGTON games of the 2002 season. Co-Defensive Cord./DB • Fourth Season Price served as the offensive coordinator at UTEP for four seasons Lutcher, La. (2004-07) under his father, Mike Price. In addition, he tutored the wide receivers his fi rst three years with the Miners before coaching the quarter- Tulane, 1983 backs in 2007. He led an offensive attack that scored 30 or more points on Former Green Wave standout and longtime NFL player and coach Lio- 30 different occasions and racked up 400 or more yards of total offense nel Washington returned to his alma mater as a co-defensive coordinator 28 times in the four seasons. and secondary coach for Tulane in 2012 and will begin his fourth season While at UTEP, Price oversaw an offensive unit that featured a pair of on the staff in 2015. record-setting players. Quarterback Trevor Vittatoe threw for 3,101 yards A native of nearby Lutcher, Washington spent 27 years in the NFL as and 25 touchdowns for the Miners in 2007, the best totals by a fresh- a player or coach, all on the defensive side of the football. He played 15 man in school history. His 3,101 passing yards were the second-highest seasons in the NFL as a defensive back and was a secondary coach for total by a freshman in the nation. Receiver Jeff Moturi caught 13 touch- 12 years following retirement. He was inducted into both the Louisiana down passes, the second-highest total in Miners history, and scored in Sports Hall of Fame and Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 10 consecutive games. The running game featured running back Marcus 2014. Thomas, who ran for 1,166 yards and 16 touchdowns, the second-highest www.TulaneGreenWave.com • @GreenWaveFB 13 AAssistantssistant CCoachesoaches

In three seasons of leading the Green Wave defense, two Tulane de- Tulane to 26 wins and appearances in the Liberty Bowl (1979) and Hall fenders have been selected in the NFL Draft- Lorenzo Doss and Taurean of Fame Bowl (1980) during his career. He served as team captain during Nixon in 2015- while three other players signed as free agents with NFL his senior season of 1982 and was a fourth round choice (103rd overall) teams, including Derrick Strozier, Jordan Sullen and Julius Warmsley. in the 1983 NFL Draft by the St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals. On the fi eld, Washington’s defensive units have forced 87 turnovers Washington and his wife Karen have two daughters: Lakaia (36) and (51 /26 recoveries) in 37 games and annually ranks Jordan (13) and one son: Deron (29), a professional basketball player among the nation’s stingiest defense’s. who was selected in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the De- Tulane’s 2014 unit forced 28 turnovers (17 interceptions/11 fumble re- troit Pistons following a stellar college career at Virginia Tech. coveries) and ranked among the nation’s top defensive units in red zone defense (second), interceptions (13th), tackles for loss (19th), turnovers gained (21st) and fumble recoveries (38th). Redshirt-freshman Parry Nickerson led the team and the nation’s fresh- JASON men with six interceptions and became the third defensive back under Washington’s tutelage to earn All-America honors with his selection as a ROLLINS First-Team Freshman All-American. Co-Defensive Cord./DB • Eighth Season The Tulane defense had an outstanding 2013 campaign under Wash- Lake Charles, La. ington, as the team was second in the nation in turnovers forced with 35 McNeese State, 1996 (16 fumble recoveries and 19 interceptions). The 19 interceptions ranked as sixth in the nation, while the 16 fumble recoveries were good for fourth Jason Rollins, the longest tenured coach on the Tulane coaching staff, in the NCAA. enters his eighth season as a secondary coach for the Wave in 2015, and Additionally, the defensive unit allowed just 352.1 yards per game, begins his fi rst season as a co-defensive coordinator. ranking 22nd overall in the nation in total defense. The defense totalled Rollins has played a key role in helping four of his pupils to the NFL, 2.92 sacks per game, good for 13 in the nation, while the red zone de- including 2015 NFL Draft picks- Lorenzo Doss and Taurean Nixon- and fense was ranked 11th in the NCAA. free agent signees Derrick Strozier and Jordan Sullen. Individually, Doss had a breakout year under Washington, as he earned During his seventh season, while also serving as the team’s special second team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated and the Walter team’s coach, Rollins’ secondary group grabbed a combined 15 inter- Camp Football Foundation. The sophomore ranked fourth in the nation in ceptions and forced two and recovered seven. The secondary interceptions per game with 0.5, as he totalled seven on the year. Doss contributed 22 of the team’s 28 total turnovers, which ranked 21st in the earned fi rst team All C-USA honors alongside his defensive teammates country, and the Green Wave ranked 13th in the country for interceptions. Julius Warmsley, who ranked 14th in the NCAA in tackles for loss per Redshirt-freshman Parry Nickerson led the team and the nation’s fresh- game (1.4). men with six interceptions and became the third defensive back under Freshman linebacker Nico Marley picked up some hardware of his Washington’s tutelage to earn All-America honors with his selection as a own, as he earned Co-Freshman of the Year honors from the league after First-Team Freshman All-American. recording 67 tackles (37 solo) with 10.0 tackles for loss. In 2013, Rollins’ secondary was a big reason why the Green Wave In his fi rst season on the Tulane staff, the Green Wave logged 15 in- made their fi rst bowl appearance since the 2002 season. The team was terceptions, which tied for the ninth-best single season effort in school second in the nation in turnovers created with 35 (16 fumble recoveries history, and also recovered nine fumbles for a total of 24 forced turnovers. and 19 interceptions), thanks in large part to the individual success by Individually, freshman Darion Monroe earned honorable mention Fresh- second-team All-America honoree Lorenzo Doss. The picked man All-America honors and joined fellow classmate Doss, on the Confer- off a team-high seven passes - returning two for touchdowns - while also ence USA All-Freshman team. Freshman cornerback Jordan Batiste and forcing two fumbles. Five other members of his secondary tallied at least Doss joined senior Austen Jacks and Warmsley as honorable mention All one , totalling 15 of the team’s 19. The 19 interceptions by the C-USA selections. Doss set a school record for interceptions by a fresh- squad ranked sixth in the entire nation. man with fi ve picks, which placed him second among C-USA defenders Additionally, the defensive unit allowed just 352.1 yards per game, and 13th nationally. ranking 22nd overall in the nation in total defense. Washington, 54, spent 10 seasons with the as a In addition to picking up the All-American honors from Sports Illustrated nicklebacks/ coach from 1999 to 2008. He worked two years and Walter Camp Football Foundation, Doss earned fi rst team All C-USA on the Oakland Raiders staff in 2009 and 2010 and was the defensive honors. backs coach on ’s staff of the United Football Rollins’ fi fth season, and fi rst under head coach Curtis Johnson, at League’s Virginia Destroyers in 2011. Tulane featured a young secondary with three freshmen starters to go As an NFL coach, he tutored several of the NFL’s best defenders, in- with one senior. However, the group responded with 11 of the team’s 15 cluding Packer cornerbacks Al Harris and former Raider Charles Wood- interceptions, which tied for the ninth-best single season interception total son, who earned Pro Bowls berths under Washington’s tutelage. In 2005, in school history, and the secondary recovered seven of Tulane’s nine Washington’s defensive backs helped Green Bay lead the league in few- fumbles while forcing three and logged 28 pass break-ups. est passing yards allowed per game (167.5) as well as fewest passing Individually, freshman Darion Monroe earned honorable mention fi rst downs (143). Freshman All-America honors and joined Doss on the Conference USA During his tenure with the Raiders, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha All-Freshman team. Freshman cornerback Jordan Batiste and Doss were earned a Pro Bowl spot, safety Tyvon Branch broke the 100-tackle mark honorable mention All C-USA selections. Doss also set a school record (124, which led all NFL defensive backs) and cornerback Chris Johnson for interceptions by a freshman with fi ve picks, which placed him second led the team in passes defended (18) in 2009. among C-USA defenders and 13th nationally. Monroe led the team in Washington’s 15 seasons in the NFL is one of the longest playing ca- tackles with 97 and returned one fumble for a touchdown, while senior reers for a defensive back in pro football history. He played in 205 NFL Ryan Travis returned one pick for a score. games with 165 starts and recorded 37 interceptions, returning four for During his fourth season, Tulane’s secondary accounted for nine of the touchdowns. In his career, Washington intercepted at least one pass in 13 team’s 12 interceptions, which were the most by a Green Wave squad of his 15 pro seasons, with at least three in fi ve different years, including since 2003, and his unit ranked sixth in pass defense and interceptions a career-high eight as a rookie in 1983. among Conference USA teams. Travis led Tulane with four interceptions After playing four years with the Cardinals (1983-86), Washington was and garnered honorable mention All C-USA honors. traded to the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 and played for the Raiders In his third year, Rollins’ secondary was tough against the pass, ranking through 1994. He spent two years (1995-96) with the Broncos before re- fi rst among C-USA teams in pass defense, giving up just 194.6 yards per turning to the Raiders in 1997 for one fi nal season. game, and ranking 28th in the nation. The secondary also grabbed eight A four-year letterwinner for the Wave from 1979-82, Washington helped 14 2015 Tulane Football AAssistantssistant CCoachesoaches interceptions, recorded 30 pass breakups, forced fi ve fumbles and made and special teams coach for Saint James High school, where it fi nished fi ve fumble recoveries. Senior Phillip Davis was a fi rst team All C-USA as the District 8-3A co-Champions. selection and ranked eighth nationally in pass break-ups with 12. Before SJHS, Drake was a student-assistant football coach at his alma Much like his rookie season at Tulane, Rollins’ group was very effec- mater, Nicholls State University, from 2008-09. His responsibilities in- tive during his second year as well with the Green Wave. TU’s second- cluded, but were not limited to assisting with the defensive line, before ary ranked fi rst among C-USA teams in pass defense, surrendering just and after practice make-ups, scouting reports, and computer inputs and 218.0 yards per game, and his cornerbacks contributed three intercep- breakdowns to name a few. tions on the season, and the group accounted for 11 pass breakups. A graduate of nearby Destrehan High School, Drake received a bach- In his fi rst season, Rollins was an instant hit with the TU secondary as elor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in computer the group accounted for 23 pass breakups, fi ve interceptions, fi ve forced information systems from Nicholls State in 2009. He earned his master’s fumbles, fi ve recovered fumbles and recorded 10 stops for lost yardage. degree in liberal arts from Tulane in 2013. More impressively, the TU pass defense ranked 14th in the nation (172.83 ypg) and was top ranked unit among C-USA teams in 2008. Rollins, 41, came to Tulane from McNeese State, where he served for DAVID three seasons as the Cowboy’s co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He helped McNeese State to a three-year mark of 23-10 which JOHNSON included a pair of Southland Conference titles and back-to-back playoff RB/TE • Fourth Season appearances in 2006 and 2007. During his fi nal season with the Cowboys, Rollins’ defensive unit helped New Orleans, La. anchor an 11-1 campaign for the top 25 ranked Cowboys. McNeese State Nicholls State, 1995 reeled off 11 straight victories before falling to Eastern Washington in the A prep football fi xture in New Orleans for the last decade, David John- fi rst round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. son enters his fourth season as the tight ends and running backs coach Prior to his return to McNeese State, Rollins spent two seasons as the for the Green Wave in 2015. defensive backfi eld coach at Northwestern State, helping lead the De- A native New Orleanian, Johnson has coached in various capacities mons to the Southland Conference title in 2004, and his defensive backs during his career at some of the top high school football programs in the were part of a unit that led the nation in total defense that same season. state of Louisiana, including twice at nearby St. Augustine High School Before that, he had served as a graduate assistant coach at McNeese (2005/2009-11), O. Perry Walker High School (2000-05) and John F. Ken- State as well as an assistant coach in the prep ranks for a pair of Texas nedy High School (1997-98). schools, including Galveston’s (Texas) Ball High School from 1999-2003 Johnson also brought collegiate experience to the Green Wave staff. and Lamarque (Texas) High School in 2003. He coached at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, from 2005-09. A native of Lake Charles, La., Rollins played high school football in The 2014 campaign saw the emergence of several freshmen standouts Newton, Texas, and later played three seasons at McNeese State where for the Green Wave at both running back and tight end. Two players- he lettered as a safety. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health and redshirt-freshman running back Sherman Badie and true freshman tight human performance from MSU in 1996. end Charles Jones- each earned Freshman All-America honors under He and his wife, Danna, have one son: Tieler (9). Johnson’s watch. Before being slowed by nagging injuries late in the season, Badie reeled off a 200-yard performance in the season opener and a 108-yard KWAHN effort at Rutgers. He led the team in rushing yards (688) and attempts (121) and produced three of the longest rushing plays from scrimmage in DRAKE school history. DL • Fourth Season Jones led the tight ends, and ranked fourth on the team, with 21 re- ceptions for 192 yards and tied for fi rst in the receiving touchdowns with Marrero, La. three. Nicholls State, 2009 In 2013, one of Johnson’s pupils in Orleans Darkwa had an outstanding Kwahn Drake enters his second season as the defensive line coach season, as he rushed for 863 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season for the Green Wave in 2015, and begins his fourth season on the staff while earning the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl MVP award for his after serving as a graduate assistant coach during the 2012 and 2013 three-touchdown performance. campaigns. Johnson came to Tulane after a successful three-year tenure as the Drake, 29, is a native of Marrero, La., and spent two seasons as a head coach/offensive coordinator and receivers coach at St. Augustine graduate assistant coach on the Tulane staff and worked primarily with High School. Johnson coached the Purple Knights from 2009-11 and led the Green Wave defense. the program to a co-district title in 2010 and to a district championship in In his rookie season as a full-time collegiate assistant coach, the Green 2011. He was named the 2011 District 10-4A Coach of the Year. Wave defenders in the trenches logged 35.5 stops for lost yardage, 15.5 Among his pupils were Tyrann Mathieu, a Heisman Trophy fi nalist, fi rst sacks, forced fi ve fumbles and made one fumble recovery. The group team All-America selection, the National and Southeastern Conference helped Tulane rank 19th in the country for tackles for loss. Player of the Year in 2011 and was drafted by the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals Junior Royce LaFrance, a third-team All-American Athletic Conference in the 2013 draft. performer from College Sports Madness, led the team with 6.0 sacks and Prior to SAHS, Johnson was the wide receivers/tight end/special teams was second with 11.0 TFLs. (return) coach and recruiting coordinator at Millsaps College. During his During the 2013 campaign, his fi nal season as a GA prior to his promo- time with the Majors, he helped the team to a Southern Collegiate Athletic tion, Drake assisted a defensive unit that ranked 22nd in the nation in total Conference title in 2006 and tied for the championship in 2008. Millsaps defense, 17th against the rush and 18th in scoring. The Wave defenders recorded a 20-1 overall record in conference play from 2006-08 and the ranked second nationally in turnovers gained with 35. 2008 Majors completed the season ranked No. 3 in the nation. Prior to Tulane, Drake served as the head defensive line coach for two Fifteen of Johnson’s receivers earned all-conference honors over a years, 2010-12, at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. The Purple four-year period. Among those receivers who Johnson played an infl u- Knights claimed the District 10-4A champions in 2011 and fi nished as Dis- ential role in helping was Eric McCarty, who completed his career as the trict 10-5A co-Champions in 2010. He was also the recruiting coordinator/ school’s all-time leader for receptions and tied the record for touchdowns academic advisor which was responsible for 25 players receiving football scored. Chris Jackson went on to win a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stam- scholarships at NCAA Division I colleges during his time at St. Augustine. pede and he also coached Milton Collins, who played for Calgary. During the 2009-10 football season, he served as the defensive line Before that, Johnson began his fi rst stint at St. Augustine High School www.TulaneGreenWave.com • @GreenWaveFB 15 AAssistantssistant CCoachesoaches as the passing coordinator and wide receiver/tight ends coach in 2005, team. Last season, he once again spearheaded a great recruiting class but left to pursue the college opportunity at Millsaps later that year. with 27 newcomers. During his stint as the recruiting coordinator, he has From 2000-05, Johnson was the offensive coordinator and wide receiv- helped the Green Wave recruit 152 total scholarship players, including 71 ers/tight ends coach at O. Perry Walker, where he helped the team to the standouts from the state of Louisiana. 2002 state fi nals, three consecutive district championships (2002-04) and Lichtenberger, 41, came to Tulane after spending the 2006 campaign coached seven receivers to 1,000-yard seasons. as an offensive administrative assistant at Auburn. He assisted with all Among his pupils was future LSU Tiger and San Diego Charger re- facets of the offense and helped the Tigers to a 10-2 mark and a victory in ceiver Craig Davis. A total of 18 players went on to play Division I college the Cotton Bowl. football, including 11 from the class of 2002. Prior to Auburn, Lichtenberger was an offensive line coach at the Uni- Johnson began his prep career as the passing coordinator and wide re- versity of California-Davis from April 2005 to February 2006. During his ceivers/tight ends coach at his Alma mater, John F. Kennedy High School, stint at UC-Davis, he helped the team to a 20-17 upset of Stanford en in 1997. route to a conference co-championship. Johnson played college football at Nicholls State from 1990-95, where He coached tackles and tight ends at Ohio University in 2004. From he earned honorable mention All-Southland Conference honors as a 2001-03, Lichtenberger was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks wide receiver and punt returner in 1993 and fi nished the `93 campaign coach at Carleton College in Northfi eld, Minn. He served as a graduate ranked third all-time in yards per catch. He received honorable mention assistant coach that worked with the offensive line at Idaho in 1999, and all-league accolades as a receiver in 1992. worked with tight ends as a graduate assistant coach at the University of He earned his bachelor’s degree in general education from Nicholls Nevada during the 2000 season. State in 1995 and spent the 1999 season playing receiver for the New A former All-American offensive lineman at California Polytechnic State Orleans Thunder in the Regional Football League. University, San Luis Obispo, Lichtenberger was a three-time all-confer- Johnson and his wife, Akeia, have three children: Jermaine (25), ence performer for the Mustangs. He helped lead the team to a top-20 De’Von (19) and Karaaz (10). national ranking during his senior season and earned 1-AA All-America honors that same season. Lichtenberger, who earned his degree in 1998, went on to get his mas- DOUG ter’s degree in sport and recreation management at the University of Idaho in August 2000. Lichtenberger and his wife, Kim, reside in New Orleans. They wel- LICHTENBERGER comed their fi rst child - Jacob Karl - on April 2, 2014. LB/Special Teams • Ninth Season San Diego, Calif. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, 1998 JOHN Doug Lichtenberger returns to the coaching ranks after serving as the assistant athletic director for football operations and recruiting from 2012- McDONELL 14. OL • Fourth Season Lichtenberger enters his ninth season on the Tulane coaching staff and Spokane, Wash. begins his fi rst season as the linebackers coach and special teams coor- Carroll College, 1981 dinator for the Green Wave in 2015. Previously, Lichtenberger served as the tight ends coach and recruiting John McDonell (pronounced MAC-done-el) enters his fourth season as coordinator for the Tulane football team from 2007-2011. the offensive line coach for the Green Wave in 2015. In 2013, Lichtenberger fi lled in as the interim special teams coach to- A veteran with nearly 30 years of experience in college football, Mc- wards the end of the campaign, where he oversaw Cairo Santos’ senior Donell has been a part of 10 bowl teams - including Tulane’s run to the season, as well as punter Peter Picerelli’s single-season school-record 2013 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - and many of his offensive line- total of 80 punts (3,316 yards). men have earned All-America honors and gone on to distinguished NFL During the 2011 campaign, Lichtenberger’s tight ends combined for careers. 23 receptions for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Under Lichtenberger’s In 2014, senior offensive tackle Sean Donnelly started all 12 games, guidance, redshirt freshman Matt Marfi si emerged as go-to target among was named second-team All-American Athletic Conference by College the Wave’s receiving corps after leading the tight ends with 13 receptions Sports Madness and ultimately signed as an undrafted free agent with for 131 yards and a score. Lichtenberger also coached the Green Wave’s the New York Giants. offensive line during the 2011 campaign. McDonell came to Tulane from the University of Idaho where he spent The 2010 season was a special year for the tight end group as senior the 2011 campaign as the offensive line coach for the Vandals. Cody Sparks completed one of the most productive careers by a Tulane Prior to Idaho, McDonell spent the 2010 season in the same capacity tight end in 27 years with his 73 receptions for 753 yards and six touch- at the University of Memphis and he also served for one season in the downs, all in just three seasons. Sparks fi nished the year with 43 recep- same role at Bowling Green State University (2009), where he helped the tions, the third-most in school history by a tight end, and 427 receiving Falcons to the Humanitarian Bowl. yards and led the team with six receiving touchdowns. As a group, the Before Bowling Green, McDonell’s previous coaching stops included tight ends combined for 46 receptions for 528 yards. Purdue (2006-08), Stanford (2001, 2005), Notre Dame (2002-04), Wash- The 2009 campaign saw his tight end group haul in 25 receptions for ington State (1989-2000) and Weber State (1984-88). 212 yards and one score. Leading the way in receptions was Sparks with He helped Purdue to the Champs Bowl in 2006 and the Motor City Bowl 10 catches, while Brock Sanders snagged the group’s lone touchdown. in 2007 and also played an instrumental role in Dustin Keller’s fi rst-round His second season saw the emergence of Sparks as one of the Green selection (30th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. Wave’s top threats from the tight end position. Sparks, who made the Before that, he was on the coaching staff for Notre Dame’s appearanc- transition from linebacker to tight end under Lichtenberger in 2008, fi n- es in the Gator Bowl (2002) and Insight Bowl (2004). Under his tutelage ished fourth on the team in receptions with 20 catches for 245 yards. with the Irish, center Jeff Faine was a fi nalist for the Rimington Trophy and During his fi rst season, his tight ends corps helped pave the way for was a fi rst-round draft pick (21st overall) by the in the Tulane’s 2,000-yard rusher, Matt Forte, and was part of an offense that 2003 draft. ranked as the sixth-best rushing unit in school history, and the group also McDonell was a member of Stanford’s Seattle Bowl appearance in combined for 16 receptions for 150 yards. 2001 and coached Eric Heitmann to fi rst team All-America honors that Off the fi eld, Lichtenberger has been a force behind the Green Wave’s same season. recruiting efforts. This season, 18 newcomers will join the Tulane football During his 12-year tenure on head coach Mike Price’s staff at Wash-

16 2015 Tulane Football AAssistantssistant CCoachesoaches ington State, he was a part of the coaching staff that led the Cougars cumulate 1,000 yards in a season and wrapped up his career ranked sec- to three bowl appearances, including the 1992 Copper Bowl, the 1994 ond in school history in TD catches (30), third in yards per catch (18.5), Alamo Bowl and the 1997 Rose Bowl. fourth in receiving yards (2,657), tied for fourth in 100-yard games (10) At Weber State, he helped the program to a banner season in 1987 and seventh in receptions (144). with a Big Sky Conference championship and a No. 10 national ranking in The Miners received big offensive years from running back Donald the fi nal Division I-AA poll. Buckram and wide receiver Jeff Moturi in 2009. Buckram set a school McDonell attended Carroll College in Montana, where he was an NAIA record by rushing for 1,594 yards, won the Conference USA individual All-American his senior year after having been an all-Frontier Conference rushing title and was a Doak Walker Award semifi nalist. Moturi made a choice three times. He was inducted into the Carroll College Athletic Hall catch in 36 straight games to cap his career, fi nishing with 2,527 yards of Fame in 1994. receiving. A native of Spokane, Wash., McDonell earned his bachelor’s degree in The 2009 Miners put 50 points on the board versus a pair of bowl social science from Carroll College in 1981. teams, beating Houston 58-41 and Marshall 52-21. UTEP ended the year He and his wife, Mindy have one son: Michael (18) and one daughter: ranked 18th nationally in total offense (428.7 ypg), 20th in passing offense Megan (16). (277.6 ypg) and 35th in scoring offense (29.8 ppg), while setting a school record with 5,144 total yards. UTEP was the only school in the country to have a 400-yard passer, 200-yard rusher and 150-yard receiver in mul- AARON tiple games in 2009. Another Price disciple, Jose Martinez, staked his claim as one of the PRICE greatest kickers in NCAA history by nailing a 64-yard fi eld goal against QB • Second Season UCF in 2008. He was a semifi nalist for the Lou Groza Award after becom- ing UTEP’s fi rst-ever fi nalist for the honor in 2007. A fi rst team All-Confer- Pullman, Wash. ence USA honoree for the second year in a row, Martinez was 37-for-47 Washington State, 1994 on fi eld goals and 89-for-92 on PATs in two seasons with the Miners. Aaron Price begins his second season as the quarterbacks coach for In 2007 Price oversaw the development of Moturi, a fi rst team All-Con- the Green Wave in 2015. ference choice who led the Miners with 65 catches for 891 yards and 13 Price, 44, brings 19 years of experience on the offensive side of the ball touchdowns. Moturi tied the school record by making a touchdown recep- to Tulane. He most recently spent nine years at UTEP working for his fa- tion in 10 consecutive games, fi nishing with 13 on the year. ther, legendary head coach Mike Price, from 2004-12. The younger Price UTEP also received productive years from receivers Lorne Sam (42 was the Miners’ offensive coordinator in his fi nal fi ve seasons and served catches-589 yards), Joe West (41 catches-734 yards-6 TDs) and Fred as the quarterbacks and kickers coach from 2004-06, and wide receivers Rouse (25 catches-379 yards) in 2007. and kickers coach in 2007. As quarterbacks and kickers coach from 2004-06, Price was instru- In all, Price spent 14 years working with his father and he also played mental in the development of record-setting performers Palmer and Rea- for Mike Price at Washington State from 1991-93. Aaron Price has been gan Schneider. a part of seven bowl teams as a coach or player, including three at UTEP Palmer threw for a school standard 3,595 yards in 2006, ranking sixth and four at Washington State. nationally in total offense (292.4 ypg) and 15th in passing effi ciency Under Price’s tutelage in 2014, redshirt-freshman, and fi rst-year starter, (149.60). Palmer was selected by Washington in the sixth round of the Tanner Lee threw for 1,962 yards and 12 touchdowns, and along the way 2007 NFL Draft and is currently with the . Lee set six school records for freshmen quarterbacks. Schneider is the Miner all-time leader for kicking scoring (287 points), During the 2012 campaign at UTEP, Nick Lamaison threw for 1,686 fi eld goals (50) and PATs (137). He earned fi rst team All C-USA accolades yards and 12 touchdowns and the Miners averaged 372.5 yards of total in 2006. Schneider was a semifi nalist for the Lou Groza Award as a junior offense per game, including an average of 224 yards per outing through and senior. the air. He was the quarterbacks coach at Washington State from 2001-02. He In 2011 Price oversaw the development of three quarterbacks - Lamai- was also a graduate assistant at Washington State from 1995-97, working son, Carson Meger and Jay Hall - who combined to throw for 2,668 yards. with the punters, kickers and quarterbacks. The trio had a total of three pass attempts at the Division I level entering He coached several players who went on to the NFL during his time in the year. Lamaison, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, led the way Pullman including kicker Rian Lindell, who is with the . with 1,718 yards through the air. Meger threw for 200+ yards twice (at Price spent two seasons at Idaho State University (1999-00), coaching USF and versus Tulsa), and Hall orchestrated a 16-10 win at I-10 rival the quarterbacks and kickers. In 1999 quarterback Kevin McCarthy set a New Mexico State. school record with 23 touchdown passes and over 3,000 yards through The receiving corps was bolstered by the additions of Michael Edwards the air. Shane Griggs threw for over 2,800 yards and 18 TDs in 2000. and Jordan Leslie, who combined for 1,087 yards and fi ve touchdowns in Earlier in his career Price was the special teams coach at Cal Poly 2011. Price also worked with kicker Dakota Warren, who has scored 149 (1994) and the quarterbacks/kickers coach at Missouri Western State points with 25 fi eld goals and 74 PATs over the last two years. Warren (1998). already ranks eighth in school history in kicking scoring. He was Washington State’s regular kicker for two years (1992-93). He Price’s fi rst quarterback protégé, Trevor Vittatoe, ended his career as hit three fi eld goals against Arizona as a junior, including a 51-yarder and UTEP’s all-time passing and total offense leader. He set a school record the game-winner from 47 yards out with 31 seconds remaining. He also for touchdown passes with 33 in 2008, and in 2009 established a Miner made a 22-yarder to beat Utah in the Copper Bowl, and a career-long single-game standard by throwing for 517 yards versus Marshall. 52-yarder versus Temple. He scored 77 points as a senior after going Despite battling injuries for the majority of his senior season (2010), a perfect 26-for-26 on PATs as a senior and adding 17 fi eld goals, the Vittatoe replaced Jordan Palmer atop the Miner record book with 12,439 second-best total in Cougar history. He was honorable mention All-Pac passing yards, 97 passing touchdowns, 12,291 yards of total offense and 10 and Academic All-Pac 10 that season. 98 touchdowns responsible for. He concluded his career rated 14th in In just three seasons at Washington State he scored 147 points. He NCAA history in passing yards and 15th in passing TDs. Vittatoe is the was 57 for 59 on PATs and 30 for 50 on fi eld goal tries. only player in school history to throw for 400 yards in four games, and to Following his collegiate playing career, he saw brief action with Edmon- pass for fi ve touchdowns on four occasions. He is also the lone signal- ton of the CFL and Sacramento of the World League of caller in Miner annals to pass for 3,000 yards in three separate seasons. n 1994. Vittatoe’s favorite target, Kris Adams, produced a star-studded 2010 Price earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Wash- campaign. He led UTEP in receptions (47), receiving yards (1,070) and ington State in 1994. He has a family with his wife, Diamond, and his touchdown receptions (14). He became only the sixth UTEP player to ac- brother, Eric, is the offensive coordinator for the Green Wave. www.TulaneGreenWave.com • @GreenWaveFB 17 AAssistantssistant CCoachesoaches

From 2006-08, Ellis was the football operations supervisor for the League’s New Orleans VooDoo, where he managed junior staff CARTER members, practice schedules, free agent visits, daily transactions, team travel, and was the New Orleans operational liaison for the Arena Bowls SHERIDAN XXI and XXII. His group was voted the “2008 AFL Support Staff of the WR • First Season Year” by his peers. New Orleans, La. Ellis worked in various capacities with the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans VooDoo from 2004-06. Florida A&M, 2000 A native of Baton Rouge, La., Ellis earned his bachelor’s degree in coaching and sports administration from Southern Miss in 2003. New Orleans native Carter Sheridan begins his fi rst season as the wide receivers coach for the Green Wave in 2015. Sheridan, 37, did not have to travel far between his new job and his old employer. Previously, he spent 11 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, WALKER including the last six years as an offensive assistant for wide receivers. This is the second stint on the same team for both Sheridan and Tulane ASHBURN head coach Curtis Johnson. Prior to Tulane, Johnson was the wide re- Defensive GA • First Season ceivers coach for the Saints and Sheridan served as his assistant from Kenner, La. 2009-11. Nebraska, 2014 Sheridan had the opportunity to assist Johnson in the development with such marquis players as Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Walker Ashburn enters his fi rst season as a graduate assistant for the Henderson and Robert Meachem. Following Coach Johnson’s departure Tulane defense in 2015. for Tulane, Sheridan tutored and was instrumental in the development Prior to Tulane, Ashburn spent the last year (2014-15) working as a of young Saints receivers such as Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks and Nick member of the New Orleans Saints equipment staff. Toon among others. Before that, Ashburn was an athletic training intern at his alma mater, Sheridan completed his fi nal season with the Saints in 2014. His re- the University of Nebraska, in 2013-14. sponsibilities included quality control, scouting reports, passing game Ashburn, 24, was a football student-athlete for the Cornhuskers from drawings, fi lm breakdown, scheduling and playbook design, among other 2010-13 and was a part of Nebraska teams that combined for a 38-16 duties. He also worked closely on a daily basis in meetings and practice overall record and four bowl appearances. He was twice named a Ne- with the team’s wide receivers. Sheridan began on the administrative side braska Scholar-Athlete. as marketing Intern and transitioned to the football side as a defensive A native of nearby Kenner and 2010 graduate of John Curtis High assistant on former Saints head coach ’s staff. School, Ashburn played for legendary Louisiana high school coach J.T. Sheridan also assisted with the Saints’ Player Programs Department, Curtis and was a four-year starter for the Patriots. He helped his school working with Fred McAfee, a former Saints special teams standout. He to two state titles as a sophomore and junior and a state runner-up fi nish has attended the NFL’s Rookie Symposiums as well as Pro Days and as a senior. Ashburn was named the MVP of the state title game as a Scouting Combines, to further advance his knowledge base and evaluate sophomore. future prospects. Ashburn earned his bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor A prep standout at nearby St. Augustine High School, Sheridan played in child, youth and family Studies from Nebraska in 2014. defensive back for Florida A&M from 1996-98 and graduated with a de- His father, Terry, is a member of the New Orleans Saints organization. gree in business administration in 2000. Sheridan is married to the former, Elicia Broussard, and the couple has a daughter, Eliah (4). Sheridan’s mother, Sharon Carter Sheridan, gradu- ated from Newcomb College in 1971 and serves on the KENNY Association Board. BOURGEOIS Defensive GA • Second Season BYRON New Orleans, La. McNeese State, 2014

ELLIS New Orleans native Kenny Bourgeois begins his second season as a Director of Operations • Fourth Season graduate assistant for the Tulane defense in 2015. Baton Rouge, La. Bourgeois, 23, comes to Tulane after serving as an assistant offensive Southern Miss, 2003 line coach at McNeese State in 2011 and 2013 and also as a student- assistant on the strength and conditioning for the last three seasons for Byron Ellis enters his fourth season as Tulane’s Director of Football the Cowboys. Operations in 2015. During the 2012 campaign, he coached the offensive line and strength Ellis, 39, is responsible for all phases of the football team travel, man- program at Hamilton Christian Academy and helped two players to all- agement of the team’s pre-season camp, the student volunteer program district honors. for Tulane football and the day-to-day operations of the football program. A 2010 graduate of New Orleans’ Jesuit High School, Bourgeois was a He also assists with the organization of Tulane’s recruiting efforts and with standout on the gridiron for the Blue Jays, collecting fi rst team all-district, the Green Wave Football Summer Camps. all-metro, Clarion Herald All-Catholic Elite and all-state honors as a se- Prior to Tulane, Ellis was the director of football operations for the Oma- nior. He concluded his prep career with a selection to the Nike Bayou ha Nighthawks of the United Football League from 2011-12. He facilitated Bowl (Texas/Louisiana all-star game). and supervised all administrative functions of the football operations de- Bourgeois signed with McNeese State out of high school but career- partment and also oversaw team travel, player housing, player transac- ending injuries sidelined his collegiate career. He received his bachelor’s tions player contracts and player payroll. degree in kinesiology from McNeese State in 2014, and plans to pursue a Before Omaha, Ellis served as the UFL’s Director of Football Admin- master’s degree in liberal arts from Tulane. istration for the league offi ce from 2010-11, and was the point man for football operations for two teams, while assisting with three other organi- zations. He was the UFL’s coordinator of football operations/player per- sonnel from 20 18 2015 Tulane Football AAssistantssistant CCoachesoaches TREY MATT JOHNSON JONES Offensive GA • Second Season Offensive GA • Second Season Miami, Fla. New Lenox, Ill. Memphis, 2012 Eastern Illinois, 2008

Trey Johnson enters his second season as a graduate assistant for the Matt Jones begins his second season as a graduate assistant coach Tulane offense. for the Tulane offense in 2014. Johnson, the son of Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson, returns to col- Jones, 31, comes to the Green Wave after spending the 2013 season lege football after playing three seasons as a receiver at the University as the tight ends coach at Villanova University, where he helped the Wild- of Memphis from 2009-11. He redshirted the 2008 campaign and then cats to a 6-5 overall record. played in 31 games with 11 starts over the next three years before several Prior to Villanova, Jones coached at Avila University in Kansas City, injuries halted his collegiate career. Mo., for two seasons as the offensive line coach, as well as the run game During his time on the gridiron at Memphis, he owned career receiving and academic coordinator. Jones helped Avila set 16 offensive school numbers of 40 receptions for 485 yards (12.1 avg.) and had returned 39 records, including fewest sacks allowed, rushing yards in a season and kickoffs for 778 yards (19.9 avg.) and registered 11 punt returns for 23 rushing touchdowns. yards. His best season was in 2011 when he played in just seven games Before Avila, Jones was an assistant at University of St. Francis from but ranked second on the team in all-purpose yards (664) 2009-10, where he was the offensive line coach and run game coordina- A native of Miami, Fla., Johnson, 24, received his bachelor’s degree in tor during the 2010 season. He coached tight ends in 2009. leadership organization from Memphis in 2012. In 2008, Jones coached at the offensive line at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Ill. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Eastern Illinois, where he was a student assistant in 2007. Jones graduated from Eastern Illinois in 2008 with a Bachelor of Sci- ence degree in Kinesiology and Sports Studies and a minor in Health Studies. He also has an Illinois teaching certifi cation. During his time at Eastern Illinois, he was a two-year member of the school’s rugby team. A native of Chicago, Ill., Jones is pursuing a master’s degree in liberal arts from Tulane. Tulane Football Support Staff

Detrick Belvin Arielle Burks Wayne Cordova Cornelius Corprew Travis Detillier Liz Devlin-Zielger Ruben Dupree III Director of Recruiting Program Coordinator Director of Player Assistant Director of Director of Video Senior Program Senior Academic Personnel/External Player Personnel Operations Coordinator Advisor Operations

Jeff Earls David Gambel Adam Hymel Jasman Marks Bradley Mathews Corey Olivier Rob Phillips Assoc. Director of Associate Athletic Assistant Strength & Assistant Strength & Assistant Director of Team Chaplain Director of Strength & Strength & Conditioning Trainer Conditioning Coach Conditioning Coach Player Personnel Conditioning/Football

Dr. Felix Savoie Ethan Solger Dr. Greg Stewart Lindy Wertz Lyle Williams Will Woessner Harry Wright Team Physician Assistant Athletic Team Physician Director of Director of Equipment Recruiting Analyst Graduate Assistant/ Trainer Campus Recruiting Operations Football Operations & Recruiting www.TulaneGreenWave.com • @GreenWaveFB 19 TTulaneulane AdministrationAdministration Michael A. Fitts University President • 2nd Year at Tulane • Philadelphia, Pa. • Harvard,

Michael A. Fitts is the 15th Presi- dent of Tulane University. President Fitts previously served as dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. A native of Philadelphia, Fitts earned a bachelor of arts from Har- vard University in 1975. Inspired by the fi lm To Kill a Mockingbird and its heroic protagonist, attorney Atticus Finch, Fitts enrolled in law school at Yale University. He became an edi- tor of the Yale Law Journal and earned his juris doctor in 1979. Fitts began teaching at Penn in 1985 after serving as a clerk for civil rights advocate Judge Leon Higginbotham and as an attorney in the U.S. Justice Depart- ment’s Offi ce of Legal Counsel. He was named law dean at Penn in 2000. Under Fitts’ deanship, Penn Law has become a national leader in cross- disciplinary legal education, with 35 degree and certifi cate programs of- fered in partnership with other divisions of Penn, including its business and medical schools. He also increased the law school’s endowment by more than 250 percent, grew the number of law faculty by 40 percent and doubled all forms of student fi nancial aid. Further, he created partnerships with institutions from Bangalore to Beijing and expanded public service opportunities for students and graduates. Michael A. Fitts and Renee J. Sobel, Esq. Fitts has also written extensively on administrative law, presidential I’m excited and honored to join the Tulane community. Located in one of power, the separation of powers, improving the structure of political par- the world’s most dynamic cities, the university embodies a rich tradition of ties and executive branch decision-making. In 2013, the University of leadership and innovation in higher education. As a preeminent academic Pennsylvania Law School’s Board of Overseers announced a gift of $4.2 and research institution with a deep commitment to public service, Tulane million to establish the Michael A. Fitts Distinguished Professor of Law, an is making a distinctive difference in the world. Our potential is unlimited. endowed faculty chair named in his honor. - Michael Fitts

Michael Fitts, the 15th President of Tulane University, begins his second year at Tulane in 2015-16.

President Michael Fitts address the graduating class during his fi rst Tulane commencement.

20 2015 Tulane Football TTulaneulane AdministrationAdministration Rick Dickson Director of Athletics • 16th Year at Tulane • Tulsa, Okla. • Tulsa, 1976

Rick Dickson has proven to be the season was a banner year for Tulane athletics as the women’s golf team right man in the right place at the repeated as Conference USA champions and fi nished 18th in the nation right time for Tulane University Ath- at the NCAA Championships, while the women’s basketball team claimed letics. Beginning his 16th year as the the C-USA regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the Director of Athletics at Tulane, Dick- NCAA Tournament and the TU volleyball team returned to the NCAA Tour- son has not only sustained Green nament for the second straight season. Wave Athletics, but led its transfor- The 2008-09 campaign saw the addition of four new programs— wom- mation to a model Division I Athlet- en’s golf, women’s tennis, men’s cross country and men’s outdoor track ics program. & fi eld— return to the varsity sports lineup and each sport turned in solid Dickson was the recipient of the fi rst seasons with the golf team capturing the Conference USA champi- 2004 Award for Outstanding Con- onship and posting a 20th place at the NCAA Championships, while the tribution to Amateur Football by tennis team registered a 12-12 mark. The TU volleyball team won its fi rst the National Football Foundation Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and advanced to and College Hall of Fame, for his leadership in guiding Tulane Athletics the NCAA Tournament second round. through the diffi cult time of the university’s Board review. In 2006, he was Each year of Dickson’s tenure Tulane student-athletes have achieved awarded the United States Sports Academy Distinguished Service Award the highest levels in the classroom – compiling semester grade point av- for skillfully directing the department through the unprecedented adversity erage of 3.0 and ranking among the NCAA leaders in graduation rates. of Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in the nation’s history. Over the last 11 years, Tulane’s varsity sports teams scored well above His swift and decisive response to these challenges saved Tulane Ath- their national averages in the NCAA’s Academic Performance Rates letics, allowing TU’s student-athletes and staff to continue to represent (APR). Tulane as one of the nation’s premier universities and athletics programs. In 2006-07, Dickson and former NCAA President Myles Brand were During the 2005-06 campaign, Dickson kept Tulane Athletics teams among the many to praise Tulane’s student-athletes and staff for their viable by fi rst overseeing the evacuation of student-athletes from New strong academic performance despite Hurricane Katrina. Orleans in advance of Hurricane Katrina, and then providing opportuni- In 2003, Dickson assumed the task of building a permanent founda- ties for the Green Wave’s teams to continue competing while dispersed tion of support for Tulane Athletics through the Perpetual Wave Cam- to four campuses in Louisiana and Texas. Working with no home facili- paign. The $65 million campaign was initiated in 2003 following a Board ties, a depleted budget, and the University shut down for the fall, Tulane review, which resulted in a unanimous resolution reaffi rming the institu- Athletics was charged to “Carry the Torch, Be the Face and Represent the tion’s NCAA status. During the review, Dickson guided the department Name” not only of Tulane but New Orleans and the entire Gulf region. through an intense campaign that saw football season ticket sales more In the aftermath of Katrina, Dickson oversaw and presented a plan to than double, as well as securing funding for the new baseball stadium and the Tulane Board of Administrators to return the Green Wave athletics numerous other facilities and program updates. programs to full-time Division I status with the full complement of the re- Dickson’s efforts to grow the fan base and establish a plan for long- quired 16 sports. He took great satisfaction when the reinstatement plan term fi nancial stability comes on the heels of some of the most successful was adopted by the board in 2007, which restarted many of the sports athletics seasons in school history. Under Dickson’s watch, Tulane teams programs suspended as a consequence of Hurricane Katrina. have won 41 C-USA titles and advanced to NCAA postseason play 36 Dickson’s 15th year marked the beginning of a renaissance period for times, including the two bowl games (2002, 2013), the 2001 and 2005 Tulane Athletics. The 2014-15 campaign was Tulane’s inaugural season College World Series and the 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014 NCAA Wom- in the American Athletic Conference, its fi rst season in the new on-cam- en’s Golf Championships. pus home for Tulane football- Yulman Stadium- and the majority of the Dickson’s innovative scheduling strategy resulted in some of the best- Green Wave’s facilities were either new or received major renovations attended events ever at the school, highlighted by the three-game 2001 over the last six years. Tulane’s entrance into The American saw unprec- Super Regional series at Zephyr Field that attracted more than 35,000 edented television coverage for Green Wave sports. fans. In 2002, he scheduled a national record breaking regular season The 2012-13 campaign proved to another season full of milestones baseball game vs. LSU (28,736-since broken). Football games with in the school annals. With Dickson and former Tulane president Scott teams such as Alabama, Mississippi State and Texas have attracted re- Cowen leading the way, Tulane announced its entrance into The Amer- gional and national attention. ican and his fundraising efforts landed a lead naming sponsor for Tu- A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dickson came to Tulane from Washington lane’s new football stadium- Yulman Stadium- in honor of Tulane alum State, where he served as athletics director from 1994-2000. At Wash- Richard Yulman and his family. Three Green Wave programs advanced ington State, Dickson oversaw an athletics program that was recognized to postseason play, which was highlighted by the women’s golf team’s nationally for its success in dealing with gender equity issues. He raised ninth-place fi nish at the NCAA Championships. In the classroom, Tulane’s funds for a capital campaign for scholarships and endowments, an indoor sports program were once again singled out by the NCAA for their elite practice facility, and the renovation of Bohler Gymnasium. Washington performances, including the men’s cross country, men’s outdoor track & State enjoyed on-the-fi eld success during his tenure, highlighted by the fi eld, men’s swimming, women’s swimming & diving each placed in the football team’s fi rst Rose Bowl appearance in 67 years in 1998. top 10 percent of their respective sports, while seven squads registered Prior to that, he spent six years as athletic director at his alma mater, perfect scores. The University of Tulsa, where he was instrumental in forming a football Dickson fulfi lled his plan to make TU’s sports line-up “whole” again in scheduling alliance that evolved into Conference USA, and the expansion 2011-12 as women’s sand volleyball and women’s bowling played their of the Western Athletic Conference. inaugural seasons, giving Tulane a 16 sport line-up for the fi rst time since Dickson and his wife, Brenda, are the parents of three daughters and a the fall of 2005. The Hertz Center was dedicated in the fall of 2011 as the son, and also have one grandchild. Doug, Kari, Kasi and Kelli, a four-year new state-of-the-art practice facility for the TU men’s and women’s bas- letter winner in volleyball for the Green Wave, are all Tulane graduates. ketball and volleyball programs. Kari is a graduate of Tulane’s Law School. The 2009-10 season saw the return of men’s tennis and women’s swimming & diving, bringing the Green Wave’s lineup to 14 sports. The www.TulaneGreenWave.com • @GreenWaveFB 21